Macon-Bibb commissioners approve $3 million in school-safety appropriations for sheriff and school district

The Macon-Bibb County Commission unanimously approved two ordinances Tuesday to spend a combined $3 million from the county's school-safety sponsor-program line item: up to $2 million intended to recruit and retain public safety officers and $1 million to fund student resource officers and crosswalk improvements in school zones.

Commissioners said the appropriations come from the county's school-safety fund, which the mayor said has taken in about $8.9 million to date; roughly $8.2 million has been spent and the balance is "less than about $600,000," according to remarks on the record.

The $2 million appropriation is described in the ordinance as funding competitive pay for public safety recruits, with an "up to $5,000" incentive available to new hires. The mayor said the sheriff identified recruitment as a top need for his office and that cameras and other equipment bought this year factor into prior uses of the safety fund.

The $1 million ordinance directs money to the Bibb County School District to be used for recruiting student resource officers and for improving or installing crosswalks in school zones. Commissioners also noted prior actions from the same funding line that included approximately $300,000 for crossing-guard coverage and purchases of Knox boxes to give first responders secure entry to school buildings in emergencies.

"First, Mayor, thank you for taking the initiative to make this happen," Commissioner Howell said during the discussion. "...this is one of the most important votes and one of the most important things that we have done since I've been here." He said the incentive pay is a recruitment tool to make Bibb County more competitive when hiring young deputies.

Mayor Pro Tem Clark asked whether state legislation under consideration that could ban these programs would affect the county's ability to continue funding them in future fiscal years. The mayor replied that such a change would be a budget implication the commission would address at the appropriate time.

Commissioner Stewart said he supported the appropriations because the funds were available and he wanted to protect children and public safety. Both ordinances were approved on unanimous voice votes recorded as carried on the floor.

The sheriff and representatives from the school district were noted as participants earlier in the meeting and cited as having asked the commission to prioritize the expenditures; the transcript references Sheriff Davis and the school system's representative Sam Kitchens.

The commission did not specify an implementation timetable or a department responsible for ongoing reporting in the discussion recorded on the transcript. The ordinances were described on the record as cosponsored by Commissioner Howell and others.